The gaming world is buzzing with excitement as CD Projekt RED confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, one of the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch titles, will leverage Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology to deliver a visually stunning experience on the hybrid console. Announced on April 20, 2025, this marks the first confirmed use of DLSS on the Switch 2, a significant milestone for Nintendo’s next-generation hardware, set to launch on June 5, 2025. The integration of DLSS, powered by Nvidia’s Tensor Cores, promises to enhance performance and image quality across all gameplay modes, making the ambitious open-world RPG a technical showcase for the Switch 2’s capabilities. As fans eagerly await hands-on impressions, the news has sparked discussions about the console’s potential to handle AAA titles, with Cyberpunk 2077 leading the charge.

DLSS, an AI-driven upscaling technology, allows games to render at lower resolutions and upscale to higher ones, boosting frame rates and visual fidelity without taxing hardware. For the Switch 2, equipped with a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 processor, DLSS is a game-changer, enabling the console to tackle demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt RED told Digital Foundry, “We’re using a version of DLSS available for Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, powered by Nvidia’s Tensor cores. The game utilizes DLSS in all four modes: in handheld and docked, and the performance and quality variations of each.” This includes docked quality and performance modes targeting 1080p at 30fps and 40fps, respectively, and handheld modes aiming for 1080p at 30fps in quality mode and 720p at 40fps in performance mode, all with dynamic resolution scaling ranging from 540p to 1080p. The use of DLSS across these modes underscores its role in balancing performance and visuals on the Switch 2’s constrained hardware.

The confirmation came after initial skepticism from Digital Foundry, whose hands-on demo at a London event showed Cyberpunk 2077 running at resolutions as low as 540p, leading some to doubt DLSS’s presence. Visible stair-stepping edges in footage suggested an older convolutional neural network version of DLSS, not the cutting-edge DLSS 4.0 transformer model, possibly due to the Switch 2’s hardware limitations. Despite this, CD Projekt RED’s statement clarified that DLSS is active, though its implementation may differ from PC versions, with post-processing elements potentially rendered at input rather than output resolution. This could explain why DLSS’s signature crispness was less evident in early demos, as noted by Digital Foundry’s Richard Leadbetter, who observed that low-quality motion blur obscured upscaling artifacts.

The Switch 2’s adoption of DLSS is a bold step for Nintendo, which has historically prioritized bespoke optimizations over cutting-edge tech. Posts on X reflect fan excitement, with one user writing, “Cyberpunk 2077 with DLSS on Switch 2? That’s insane for a handheld!” Others, however, remain cautious, citing the game’s troubled 2020 launch on older consoles. The Switch 2 version, based on the Ultimate Edition with the Phantom Liberty expansion, benefits from years of patches, but its performance on a handheld remains a technical challenge. Digital Foundry noted inconsistent frame rates in demos, suggesting that with only weeks until launch, CD Projekt RED faces pressure to optimize streaming, AI, and environmental art for a consistent experience.

Comparisons to the Steam Deck, which struggles with Cyberpunk’s DLC at stable frame rates, highlight DLSS’s importance for the Switch 2. The technology’s ability to upscale from resolutions as low as 360p in handheld performance mode could make Night City playable on a 10W power budget, a feat unimaginable on the original Switch. Nintendo’s confirmation of ray tracing and variable refresh rate support via G-SYNC further bolsters the Switch 2’s credentials, though Cyberpunk’s use of ray tracing remains unconfirmed. The game’s four-mode structure—offering quality and performance toggles in both docked and handheld configurations—gives players flexibility, with the 40fps performance mode requiring a 120Hz display for optimal fluidity.

As the Switch 2’s launch approaches, Cyberpunk 2077 stands as a litmus test for Nintendo’s ambition to compete in the AAA space. While some X users question whether the console’s $450 price tag justifies its PS4-level power, others see DLSS as a lifeline for extending the system’s longevity. With pre-orders opening April 24, 2025, amid tariff-related delays, the promise of a portable Night City has fans eager to explore Cyberpunk 2077’s neon-lit streets. Whether CD Projekt RED can deliver a polished port by June remains to be seen, but DLSS’s inclusion signals a new era for Nintendo’s hybrid gaming vision.